Ecarx from Li Shufu's portfolio will deliver robotaxis to an American startup for $750 million

Ecarx, a company in the portfolio of Chinese billionaire Li Shufu, has signed a contract to supply robotaxis to American startup May Mobility. The deal is valued at approximately $750 million and could transform the autonomous vehicle market in the US.

Contract Scale

The agreement between Ecarx and May Mobility is one of the largest contracts in the autonomous driving segment ever concluded. The companies have not disclosed all details of the partnership, but it involves the supply of numerous robotaxis to the American market, scheduled over several years. May Mobility plans to use these vehicles for ride-hailing and cargo delivery services in several major American cities.

The $750 million figure reflects the project's ambition: it could involve tens of thousands of vehicles or a long-term contract for software development and integration. Such a contract signals the American market's readiness for mass deployment of autonomous taxis and trucks. This happened faster than seemed possible just a few years ago, when autonomous vehicles were considered a technology of the future.

Li Shufu's Portfolio Grows in AI and Automotive

Li Shufu, founder and controlling shareholder of automaker Geely, is one of the largest investors in future technologies. His portfolio includes electric vehicle developers, battery manufacturers, software companies, and now Ecarx, a firm specializing in autonomous vehicle platforms. Ecarx develops operating systems, hardware, and integrated solutions for autonomous vehicles. The company does not manufacture vehicles itself but supplies technology and platforms to companies that produce or operate them. Therein lies the genius of Li Shufu's strategy:

• Geely manufactures physical vehicles (traditional and EV)
• Ecarx develops the brain for autonomous versions
• Partners like May Mobility operate fleets and generate revenue
• Investments span the entire stack: from materials to final consumer services

This vertical integration gives Li Shufu an advantage: his companies control critical parts of the value chain.

Chinese Technology in the American Market

The May Mobility-Ecarx contract shows that American mobility startups are already ready to purchase critical technology from Chinese developers. Such deals previously seemed politically and economically impossible due to sanctions, tariffs, and mutual distrust. But in AI and autonomous vehicles, competition occurs not between countries but between companies and their engineering teams. May Mobility, which operates in the American market and has investments from local venture funds, chose Ecarx as a reliable supplier of critical technology. This speaks to the quality of Ecarx's developments and the trust it has earned on the global market.

What It Means

Robotaxis are emerging from laboratories and experiments into scalable business. Each multi-billion-dollar contract confirms that the technology has matured and investors believe in profitability. The deal between Ecarx and May Mobility is not just a commercial agreement but a market signal: autonomous transportation is becoming a reality, not an engineer's dream. For Li Shufu, the contract confirms his vertical integration strategy. Geely makes vehicles, Ecarx provides intelligence, and partners like May Mobility grow worldwide, bringing profits to all ecosystem participants. The signal is clear: the next decade in transportation will belong to companies that can combine hardware, software, and services in a single stack.